Chapter 22

Ch. 22

King of Fist, Delivering Proper Education 2

Gu Yangming's face as he walked out was as white as a blank sheet of paper.

His palm techniques and sword techniques had been completely read by the Great Young Master, his inner qi had been overwhelmed, and his speed couldn't keep up. What made Gu Yangming most furious was that the Great Young Master hadn't given his all but had leisurely examined his techniques as if he were just observing the martial arts of the Gu Family.

It was for this reason that the match had dragged on, and if they had clashed with their true abilities, it wouldn't have been a match that lasted this long.

Gu Yangming had suffered not only in expression but also deep wounds to his heart.

When Gu Yangyun approached, Gu Yangming waved his hand as if he didn't want to speak.

Then Gu Yangyun deliberately grabbed Gu Yangming with both hands and gently injected some inner qi.

"Elder Brother, pull yourself together."

Gu Yangyun deliberately gripped Gu Yangming's shoulder tightly. Gu Yangming frowned and said.

"What are you doing?"

Gu Yangyun replied.

"Your face is pale. That was dangerous."

As Gu Yangyun said, if Gu Yangming had been left like this, even without injuries, his qi might have become tangled and he could have coughed up blood. Only then did Gu Yangming, having regained his senses, say to his younger brother.

"Give your best from the beginning. There's no need to conserve your techniques."

Gu Yangyun nodded.

"That's what I intend to do. Elder Brother, sit here and take deep breaths."

Gu Yangyun was afraid his brother might fall into cultivation deviation like this. Fortunately, Gu Yangming didn't insist stubbornly, and when he sat down, Gu Yangyun lightly patted his back before entering the enclosure.

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Dan Wooseong showed proper courtesy.

"Gu Young Master."

Gu Yangyun silently returned the courtesy and immediately drew his straight blade from his waist.

Dan Wooseong enjoyed the match. After all, rather than just repeating individual training, mixing in matches in between had the flavor of confirming one's martial arts achievements.

"Here I come."

Gu Yangyun spoke briefly and, unlike his brother, launched a bold first attack. On the surface, he had a gentler manner of speaking and a more amiable impression than his brother, but as soon as he drew his blade, he swung it with the determination to fight to the death.

When it came to competition, he possessed a far more aggressive temperament than his brother. Only then did Dan Wooseong think that Gu Yangyun was a man who suited the blade.

When Gu Yangyun came out aggressively, Dan Wooseong responded aggressively as well.

Every time the blade flew through the air tracing its trajectory, Dan Wooseong would dodge and then inevitably counter with a knife-hand or fist. It was psychological warfare designed to make his opponent move uncomfortably. Because he mixed in palm power when striking, fist wind would shoot out or visible blade-like lightning qi would pour toward Gu Yangyun's torso from his knife-hand.

In an instant, the surrounding enclosure began to tear and flutter in the wind like shredded vegetables.

During the battle, Dan Wooseong used the Thunder Foot technique he had frequently employed in his prime.

With a thud— as energy waves spread forward... Gu Yangyun, who had been approaching, was startled and leaped backward to create distance. Having been responding only to fist wind, when the attack method suddenly changed with a thunderous roar, he was completely startled.

Dan Wooseong looked at Gu Yangyun who had leaped into the air and wrapped lightning qi around his fist.

Thunder Roar.

The technique was of the fifth stage, but he injected only third-stage power.

A technique with the name of thunder's cry.

Dan Wooseong's simple straight punch stopped decisively at a certain point in the air, and instantly a giant fist-shaped white lightning qi extended toward Gu Yangyun with a tremendous vibration.

To the eyes of those watching from outside the enclosure...

Gu Yangyun soared into the air, followed by a giant fist extending diagonally from within the enclosure.

Gu Yangyun twisted his blade to its flat side and then fiercely struck behind it with his left palm.

Kwaaaaaaang!

With a thunderous roar like a drum being torn, Gu Yangyun's body, having blocked the Thunder Roar, traced a curve as it was flung outside.

At the same time, Shin So-baek, who had been sitting nearby, shot up as if bouncing and caught Gu Yangyun, who had nearly rolled on the ground, barely maintaining balance.

Shin So-baek examined Gu Yangyun.

"I say, Gu younger brother."

When there was no response, Shin So-baek gently tapped the acupoints at Zhongwan, Zhongzheng, and Tiantu on Gu Yangyun's chest area, then gave his cheek a light tap.

"Cough..."

Gu Yangyun, who had been temporarily unconscious, opened his eyes and continued breathing roughly. When Gu Yangyun looked up, Shin So-baek and Gu Yangming were looking down at him with worried expressions.

Gu Yangyun unconsciously felt around his body. There were no injuries. He had apparently just fainted from the strange thunderous sound and shock wave.

"Haa..."

The Gu brothers sighed simultaneously. It was already their second defeat.

Whether Gu Yangming's heart was greatly wounded, he spoke to Shin So-baek in a dejected tone.

"Let's consider today a defeat and just go back."

If they suffered a third defeat, there would be an even bigger uproar at the family estate. Since he and Gu Yangyun had been defeated like this, Shin So-baek didn't seem likely to fare much differently. At Gu Yangming's words, Shin So-baek's eyebrows twitched and rose upward.

Shin So-baek said.

"If I miss this opportunity, I wouldn't be a martial artist. Since the Great Young Master is an excellent martial artist, from the standpoint of training palm techniques, I must definitely compete once. Victory and defeat are merely results, and martial arts develop within the process. And having such skill while leaving both of your conditions not severely bad—know that this shows the Great Young Master's careful consideration. I'll go and return. Please rest."

Shin So-baek spoke in a cold tone as if for the two to hear, then walked toward the enclosure.

Gu Yangming and Gu Yangyun looked at each other but had nothing particular to say.

As Shin So-baek had said, both of them knew even better that the Great Young Master had held back appropriately.

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Shin So-baek first cupped his fists toward Dan Wooseong and asked.

"It seems the Great Young Master was concerned about injuries, so honestly my fighting spirit isn't boiling over. Moreover, judging from the skill shown against the Gu Young Masters, your inner qi seems deeper than this Shin's."

"Not at all."

Dan Wooseong gazed steadily at Shin So-baek. Shin So-baek seemed to have more to say.

"Great Young Master, it seems you're also training external arts together—is that correct?"

"That's right."

"If it's acceptable to you, how about we proceed with the match using only external arts?"

Shin So-baek looked at Dan Wooseong and proposed a man-to-man duel.

It was also a suggestion that since his inner qi didn't seem deeper than Dan Wooseong's from the start, they should determine the superiority of palm techniques and fist techniques without inner qi.

Dan Wooseong accepted quite simply.

"Let's do that."

"No regrets?"

Dan Wooseong smiled faintly.

"The path ahead is long, so it's just a process for both of us."

He meant that since the path of martial arts wouldn't end with just this level of training and matches, they should both consider it a process. It was also a response to what Shin So-baek had said to the Gu brothers.

But competing without inner qi—who would this truly favor?

It was also Dan Wooseong's most preferred type of fight.

Shin So-baek approached Dan Wooseong without realizing what he had done. Since there was no inner qi, this duel would be close combat from start to finish. Now they would compete in palm techniques, Golden Palm Technique, fist and foot techniques, and body arts.

Shin So-baek extended his knife-hand with his palm facing skyward. He paused as if giving the Great Young Master time to prepare, then launched his first attack.

Dan Wooseong also counterattacked while suppressing his qi. He liked his opponent. Since he liked him, he had an obligation to face him properly.

A man of this caliber would gain more from defeat than anyone else. Since his temperament and mindset also seemed better than the Gu brothers, there was a need to give him the King of Fist's special treatment.

Thwack thwack thwack thwack!

Knife-hands and fists clashed, wrists struck wrists, and directions twisted. Shin So-baek threw a feint, aimed for the abdomen with his left palm, then suddenly thrust out his left foot like a hidden weapon.

The sound of wind rose quite loudly.

As soon as Dan Wooseong twisted his body to grab the left foot, he threw Shin So-baek to one side. Since he used Shin So-baek's own force directly, Shin So-baek's body flew quickly. Since it was a moment when a decisive blow could have come, Shin So-baek felt doubtful.

'Does he want to continue fighting?'

Shin So-baek did a somersault and landed, then observed the Great Young Master's mood before attacking again.

Dan Wooseong nodded as if telling him to keep coming. Shin So-baek's attacks became even more fierce. When Dan Wooseong saw an opening in Shin So-baek's legs, he swept with his left foot as if cutting them down.

Thwack! With the sound, Shin So-baek's body tilted, then he swung his right foot like a sickle cutting down, aiming for the Great Young Master's head.

When Dan Wooseong deflected it with his right hand, Shin So-baek, who had shot into the air, crossed both feet and unleashed attacks seven or eight times.

Smack smack smack smack!

Because there was no inner qi, it wasn't very difficult for Dan Wooseong to block. As Shin So-baek descended, he lightly kicked off the ground once, then rotated his body while executing a strange technique called Rotating Wheel Cliff Palm. It looked like a strong wave crashing with rotational force...

Dan Wooseong simply grabbed Shin So-baek's left arm and received the trajectory and force of the Rotating Wheel Cliff Palm directly. With a crack— as Shin So-baek's arm was twisted behind his back, Shin So-baek thrust out his right foot as the only remaining attack route.

At the same time, Dan Wooseong, who had deflected Shin So-baek's foot with his knee, grabbed even his right arm and twisted it backward, then lifted Shin So-baek with both hands.

With both arms already captured, it was a situation where he could neither do this nor that.

If Dan Wooseong brought his knee up while slamming him down to the ground like this, all of Shin So-baek's vertebrae could be displaced.

Dan Wooseong threw him at an appropriate speed as if telling him to balance himself. Then Shin So-baek twisted his body in mid-air and barely landed on both feet. To attack further here would be like certifying that he wasn't human.

Shin So-baek stood up, cupped his fists, and said.

"Great Young Master, it was a good experience. I felt that I'm still far lacking. I'll train hard and challenge you again later. Including myself, we've had three fair matches, and I'll testify that the Gu Family was defeated in all three."

Dan Wooseong replied to Shin So-baek with a calm expression. Usually it would be common to at least offer dinner, but looking at Shin So-baek's expression, there was no possibility of that. It was just courtesy; Shin So-baek was barely maintaining his composure.

Shin So-baek stopped while trying to leave the enclosure and turned around.

"Ah, Great Young Master."

"Please speak."

"With such outstanding skill, don't you have any intention of joining the Murim Alliance? These days, one can become a member with outsider status. Great Young Master, your skill is more than sufficient."

"I'll think about it."

"Then, see you again."

Shin So-baek walked out with a complicated expression and said to the Gu brothers.

"Let's go. We all lost."

The three had nothing more to say. If there were a mouse hole, they wanted to hide in it briefly and return after the sun set. As the three headed toward the main gate, Dan Wooseong quietly followed them out for some reason.

Dan Wooseong quietly followed to the main gate, then called to stop the three.

"Gu Young Masters, Shin Young Master."

When the three turned around with tense expressions, Dan Wooseong showed proper courtesy.

"It was a good match. Take care on your way."

Now they saw it was simply a send-off. The three hurriedly returned the courtesy. Only Gu Yangyun could manage a reply.

"Please go inside. We'll return immediately."

When Dan Wooseong extended his hand as if telling them to go first, only then did the three move away from the Galaxy Merchant Group.

Dan Wooseong gazed steadily at their figures. Though the three's impressions had changed from what he'd first seen, there was a commonality. These were martial artists who considered defeat a disgrace.

Dan Wooseong showed courtesy because they were martial artists.

The same Dan Wooseong who would slap the cheek of someone who deliberately bumped shoulders on the street was also the Dan Wooseong who didn't lose courtesy toward martial artists who had been defeated by him.

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